Closer hinge



April 26, 1955 R. M. SPEARS CLOSER HINGE Filed July 12, 1954 IN V EN TOR.

iiit if LOSER HINGE Robert M. Spears, Austin, Tex.

Application July 12, 1954, Serial No. 442,691

4 Claims. ((Jl. 161S9) This invention relates to hinges for doors or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a closer hinge for doors which is self-closing.

It is another object of the present inventlon to provide a closer hinge for doors or the like which Wlll be well lubricated at all times. D

Other objects of the present invention are to prov1de a closer hinge bearing the above ob ects in mind which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is easy to assemble and mount upon the door and is efficient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the followmg detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a hinge embodying the invention in operative use;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a hinge embodying the invention;

Fig. 3 is a view shown partly in elevation and partly in section taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, in represents a closed, substantially semi-cylindrical housing integrally formed at its upper end with a mounting flange 11 and at its lower end with a mounting flange 12, the mounting flanges 11 and 12 being provided with the countersunk mounting openings 13 and 14, respectively. The housing 19 is secured to the frame 15 by means of the screws 16 within the mounting openings l3, l4.

The top wall 17 of the housing 10 is provided w th a central circular opening 18. The top wall 17 ad acent the opening 18 is provided with a second cylindrical opening 19 within which fits a removable filler plug 26) having a flange 21 at its upper end.

The upper surface of the bottom wall 22 of housing 1% is provided with a circular recess 23 within which is rotatably supported the circular flange 24 integrally formed at the closed lower end of a cylindrical member 25. The cylindrical member 25 is provided with an internally threaded bore 26 (Fig. 3) and a transverse bore 27 connecting the bottom of the internally threaded bore 26 with the interior of housing it A U-shaped arm 28 is integrally formed at one end thereof with an extension of less diameter than the arm 28 and comprising a smooth cylindrical portion 29 rotatably mounted within and passing downwardly through the opening 18 in top wall 17 and an externally threaded portion 30 extending downwardly within the housing 10 and screwed into the internally threaded opening 26 of cylindrical member 25.

A rectangular plate 31 is integrally formed at the other end of the arm 28 and is provided with countersunk mounting openings 32 within which are positioned screws 33 whereby to fixedly mount the plate 31 on the door 34.

A washer 35 is disposed on the top wall 17 against the shoulder formed by the end of the arm 28 and the extension 29.

A nut 36 is screwed onto the externally threaded extension 30 intermediate the ends thereof and supports thereon a circular plate 37 having a central opening receiving the portion 30 therethrough. A second nut 38 is screwed onto the externally threaded portion 30 and engages the top of plate 37 whereby to fixedly mount the latter intermediate the nuts 36 and 38, as will be obvious, the plate 37 near its periphery being provided with an opening 39.

A helical spring 40 sleeves the cylindrical member 25 and externally threaded portion 30 intermediate the bottom wall 22 and plate 37, the upper end of the spring 49 being received within the opening 39, while the lower end of the spring is fixedly received within an opening 41 provided on the upper surface of bottom wall 22.

A freely floating spring 42 sleeves the externally threaded portion 30 intermediate the plate 37 and the top wall 17, a plate 43 being provided intermediate the top wall 17 and the upper end of the freely floating spring 42.

The externally threaded portion 30 is provided with a central longitudinal bore 44 extending upwardly from the bottom thereof to a point adjacent the smooth cylindrical portion 29, the upper end of the bore 44 communicating with the interior of the housing 10 through a transverse bore 45.

Lubricating oil 46 is disposed within the housing It and is poured therein through the inlet opening 19.

In operation, when the door 34 is moved to the open position shown in phantom in Fig. l, the arm 28 will be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the externally threaded portion 3%, the rotational movement of the latter rotating the plate 37 fixedly connected thereto. This rotation will tension the spring 40, the lower end of which is fixed to the bottom wall of the housing 16 so that upon release of the door 34, the latter will be self-closing under the tension of the spring 40. The lubrication of the members within housing 10 is provided at all times by means of the oil 46 which passes through the transverse bore 45 downwardly through the vertical bore 44, into the bottom of the internally threaded bore 26, the oil also flowing through the transverse bore 27.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A closer hinge for doors or the like comprising a closed housing, means for mounting said housing on a door frame or the like, a pivoted member rotatably mounted within the top wall of said housing and extending downwardly therewithin, said pivoted member extending upwardly and laterally of said housing, means for connecting the other end of said pivoted member to a door or the like, spring means within said housing for normally retaining said pivoted member in a door closed position, and means for lubricating said pivoted member, said pivoted member including a substantially vertical externally threaded portion extending downwardly within said housing, the top Wall of said housing having an opening, said pivoted member including a smooth portion rotatably mounted within said opening adjacent said externally threaded portion, a sleeve screw threaded onto the lower end of said externally threaded portion, said sleeve being rotatably mounted on the upper surface of the bottom of said housing, said spring means comprising a pair of adjacent nuts on said externally threaded portion intermediate the ends thereof, a plate secured on said externally threaded portion intermediate said nuts, and a spring sleeving said externally threaded portion intermediate the bottom of said housing and said plate, the upper end of said spring being secured to said plate, the lower end of said spring being secured to said housing.

2. A closer hinge according to claim 1, said lubricating means comprising a central longitudinal bore extending upwardly from the lower end of said externally threaded portion to a point adjacent said smooth portion, said externally threaded portion having a transverse bore connecting the upper end of said longitudinal bore with the inside of said housing, said sleeve having a transverse bore connecting the lower end of said longitudinal bore with the inside of said housing, said housing having an oil inlet opening and cover therefor.

3. A closer hinge according to claim 2, said smooth portion being of less diameter than the external adjoining portion of said pivoted member thereby providing a shoulder, a washer on the upper surface of the top wall or the housing in abutment with said shoulder, and a second spring sleeving said externally threaded portion irtermediate the top wall of said housing and said plate, the ends of said spring being free.

4. A closer hinge according to claim 3, said means for mounting said housing comprising flanges at the upper and lower edges of said housing having mounting openings therein, fastening means within said mounting openings for securing said flanges to a door frame or the like, said means for connecting the other end of References Cited in the file of this patent UNKTED STATES PATENTS 1,136,379 Sundh Apr. 20, 1915 2,653,8ll Eek Nov. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 509,157 Great Britain July 12, 1939 

